Several recent actions and statements made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have underscored its plans to prioritize enforcement of climate change and other environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in 2021.
Firms that have seen the recently released 2021 Report on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA’s) Examination and Risk Monitoring Program (the “Report”) should be formulating plans to fortify their compliance programs based on the noteworthy findings shared from recent FINRA exams. The Report provides firms with valuable insight into 18 regulatory topics categorized by Firm Operations, Communications and Sales, Market Integrity, and Financial Management.
Financial advisers and broker-dealers should conduct thorough and frequent reviews of their clients’ holdings in certain Chinese companies now that a November Executive Order that prohibits new U.S. investments in companies with alleged ties to China’s military has taken effect.
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Division of Enforcement released its Annual Report (the “Report”) last month, which discusses enforcement cases and responses that occurred during the 2020 fiscal year.… Read More
In general, small businesses tend to be more vulnerable in an economic downturn because they lack the financial cushion many larger companies have. Since the creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, large businesses have benefited from a more favorable regulatory framework and from liquidity backstops that the Fed has used to fortify weakness in financial markets.
The comment period has closed on the third round of proposed changes to the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”), which were announced October 12, 2020, by the California Office of the Attorney General. There are a number of disputes regarding how the proposed revisions will impact a California consumer, but a number of the proposed revisions appear to address the manner in which a consumer may engage in the opt-out collection process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated small business at an unprecedented rate and sent the U.S. unemployment rate to its highest level since the Great Depression, reaching a high of 14.7% in April 2020.
Stress created by high jobless rates. Acrimonious political debate over acceptable levels of federal assistance. Rampant fear and uncertainty while awaiting the arrival of an effective coronavirus vaccine.
Jacko Law Group, PC (“JLG”) continues to see a high volume of financial advisors transitioning from one broker-dealer or registered investment advisory firm to another. When advisors[1] change firms in the heavily-regulated financial industry, they and the firms they are joining must understand federal and state laws, as well as contractual limitations and how those considerations will factor in to the transition process.… Read More
On Friday, June 26, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released updated responses to FAQs regarding Form CRS. Notwithstanding the timing of the updated FAQs, the additional guidance offers supplementary and expanded information regarding the SEC’s stance on important considerations for the Form CRS including: